Pre-diabetes: TV star Gloria Hunniford tells of her shock at diagnosis and explains symptoms to look out for and how you can cut your risk

AROUND seven million people in the UK have the condition, which means they have high levels of blood suagr, but symptoms are hard to spot.

Gloria Hunniford was diagnosed with pre-diabetes after cutting herself.

WHEN TV presenter Gloria Hunniford cut herself carving a Sunday roast, little did she know that it would spark off a series of life-changing events.

The 73-year-old, who also heads up cancer charity The Caron Keating Foundation, discovered that she had high blood sugar, a sign of pre-diabetes, after visiting hospital when the wound on her knuckle became infected.

She said: “When an inch-wide red welt went right up my arm, I rushed to my local A&E. I ended up in hospital for two weeks on intravenous antibiotics.

“It was during the process of blood tests that the high blood sugar reading was found.

“It was a huge shock.

“My late sister Lena was diabetic so I was nervous of it.

“I asked the doctor what I could do to prevent diabetes. He advised cutting out sugar and carbohydrates, which turn to sugar, from my diet.

“Now, I have no obvious sugary items but also no potatoes, rice, pasta or bread.

“I also try to cut out the hidden sugars that are found in, for example, fruits.

“Grapes are ridiculously high in sugar and so is melon, which many people think consists mostly of water.The only fruits my doctor likes are berries, such as blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, and pears and apples.

“Also, two stone dropped off me within weeks –I’m 8.5 stone now and I don’t want to lose any more.”

Now Gloria follows a low-sugar, low-carb diet.

She said: “For breakfast, I have anything from scrambled egg and smoked salmon to Lizi’s Granola.

“I can have bacon, egg and sausage because it’s protein.

“For lunch, I might choose soup or a chicken or fish salad.

“In the evening, it’s anything in terms of fish or meat, with extra vegetables to replace the carbs.

“Of course, if my family are coming for Sunday lunch and I’m cooking roast potatoes for them I’ll have just one.

“For dessert, I opt for lots of berries and Greek yogurt, which can also act as a good snack.

“When it comes to drink, white wine is full of sugar so I might have the occasional glass of red. But I’m not a big drinker.”

She also tries to exercise regularly, though it can be hard fitting it in to her busy schedule.

Gloria added: “I walk my two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and have a static bike and walking machine at home. I do it as often as possible, although it’s never enough. Still, anything helps.”

For the last two weeks Gloria has been co-presenting BBC1’s Rip Off Britain: Food, which yesterday focused on sugar.

She said: “It’s been described as the new poison or new tobacco and there is pressure on the government to prevent so much sugar being put into our food.”

The average Briton can consume up to 34 teaspoons of sugar a day. Medics say a man should have no more than nine, a woman six and a child, aged four to eight, no more than three.

Gloria added: “A cardiologist we interviewed believes sugar and not fat is our real enemy, being the main cause of metabolic diseases like strokes and diabetes.

“He tells his heart patients not to buy low-fat yogurt, because when manufacturers remove fat they pack the product with sugar.”

Pre-diabetes: Causes and treatments

Douglas Twenefour, Diabetes UK clinical adviser, said: “Pre-diabetes is where people have high blood glucose but not sufficient to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes.

“Around seven million people have pre-diabetes but many wouldn’t know because it isn’t a condition where you normally have symptoms.

“If you’re diagnosed you have a higher risk of going on to develop Type 2 but the risk can be reduced by reversing your blood glucose levels.

“Controlling your weight is the most important step. Some people may lose weight by being more active. Others do it by just changing their diet. For the long term, we suggest people do a little bit of both – some physical activity and reducing sugar, saturated fat and salt.

“For those who are not overweight, we usually tell them to increase their physical activity.

“For general health, about 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week, is a sufficient amount.”